Italy has sent 40 failed asylum seekers to Albania to be held in Italian-run detention centers until they are repatriated.
The centers, built in Albania last year, were originally intended to process asylum requests from migrants rescued at sea, as part of Italy’s efforts to deter irregular migration.
An Italian navy ship transported the migrants from Brindisi in southeast Italy to the Albanian port of Shengjin, arriving on Friday afternoon.
All of the migrants are men and will remain in a camp in Albania until their deportation.
It remains unclear how long they will stay in Albania, though Italian law allows failed asylum seekers to be held for up to 18 months while awaiting deportation.
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